There are long-standing unsolved issues regarding the diagnosis and classification of central disorders of hypersomnolence. These include delineating and identifying phenotypes and unique... Show moreThere are long-standing unsolved issues regarding the diagnosis and classification of central disorders of hypersomnolence. These include delineating and identifying phenotypes and unique conditions (“sui generis”), sleep deprivation’s impact on phenotypes and how to separate sleep deprivation as a trigger from other causes, as well as the association of excessive sleepiness with other disorders. We discuss these issues and present a novel, straightforward classification system with consistent terminology to get out of the impasse and do justice to people with hypersomnolence. Show less
The mechanisms involved in the autoimmune hypothesis of narcolepsy are investigated in this thesis. The role of HLA, auto- and cross-reactive T cells is explored and immune cell populations of... Show moreThe mechanisms involved in the autoimmune hypothesis of narcolepsy are investigated in this thesis. The role of HLA, auto- and cross-reactive T cells is explored and immune cell populations of interest are identified by a new technique, called mass cytometry. The second part of the thesis assesses unexplored clinical features of narcolepsy, such as weight gain and sleep state misperception. Show less
The aim of this European initiative is to facilitate a structured discussion to improve the next edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD), particularly the chapter on... Show moreThe aim of this European initiative is to facilitate a structured discussion to improve the next edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD), particularly the chapter on central disorders of hypersomnolence.The ultimate goal for a sleep disorders classification is to be based on the underlying neurobiological causes of the disorders with clear implication for treatment or, ideally, prevention and or healing. The current ICSD classification, published in 2014, inevitably has important shortcomings, largely reflecting the lack of knowledge about the precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying the majority of sleep disorders we currently delineate. Despite a clear rationale for the present structure, there remain important limitations that make it difficult to apply in routine clinical practice. Moreover, there are indications that the current structure may even prevent us from gaining relevant new knowledge to better understand certain sleep disorders and their neurobiological causes.We suggest the creation of a new consistent, complaint driven, hierarchical classification for central disorders of hypersomnolence; containing levels of certainty, and giving diagnostic tests, particularly the MSLT, a weighting based on its specificity and sensitivity in the diagnostic context.We propose and define three diagnostic categories (with levels of certainty): 1/"Narcolepsy" 2/"Idiopathic hypersomnia", 3/"Idiopathic excessive sleepiness" (with subtypes). (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. Show less
